Punting on the river that runs through Cambridge University may seem one of the most gentle summer activities. However, the punt operators who ferry tours up and down the river Cam are to be subject to strict new health and safety rules or risk a ban from the waters.
The new rules drawn up by the Conservators of the River Cam state that airline-style safety demonstrations must take place before passengers can set off. Lifejackets must be made available and amplified singing, music and noise are not allowed. Punting firms must have safety officers and they are “expected to set a high standard of consideration for other vessels and the masters of other vessels”.
Chauffeurs must undergo training for what to do in an emergency, though most of the licensed companies say they already have their own codes similar to the new rules being drawn up.
Tour operators say they are not the ones causing chaos on the river Cam, pointing out that regulations for self-hired punts are far more relaxed.
“For chauffeurs, it’s like us driving down a motorway sober as a judge, but with drunks whizzing past us at high speed, we’re not the ones who need the strict rules,” said Sam Matthews, who runs the Traditional Punting Company close to the university’s Trinity College. “For some reason, they aren’t keen on regulating those punts, which can be taken out by anyone, they want to regulate the operators.”
Matthews said most of the new rules were plain common sense, like not having a drunk chauffeur, or rescuing anyone from drowning. He said: “We do get a hen party offering their punt guide a glass of champagne every now and again, but that’s not the cause of the accidents. You only have to look at the safety record every year – it gets worse and it’s not the chauffeurs causing the collisions.”
Punting is traditionally a safe activity, Matthews said. “You get a few bumps and scrapes as you would any outdoors fun. I don’t think a sticker on the boats is going to change that,” he said.
Other punt operators plying their trade close to the Bridge of Sighs on Tuesday had more serious warnings, with one chauffeur, who did not want to be named, telling the Guardian he had heard of amateurs losing fingers as heavy punts collided.
Jed Ramsay, river manager of the Conservators, said the new code would make punting more enjoyable for everyone. “The revised code of conduct will bring improvements in safety for everyone who enjoys punting,” he told the Cambridge News. “Punt operators sign up to the code and it specifies a range of things, from signage to training to accident reporting. The revisions brings better, simpler signage and also the potential for a convicted chauffeur to be banned for six months following a dangerous punting incident.”
Sitting in the fading September sunlight by Magdalene College, American tourist Jordan Chalmers, 38, laughed at the idea of a safety demonstration, having recently taken a self-hire punt out with his wife Deborah.
“The Brits are even worse than the Americans for their safety checks,” he said, explaining he had come from London on a day trip because he and his wife lived in Cambridge, Massachusetts. “We had a demonstration on how to use the punt, and he told us to keep our hands inside, but it’s obvious really. What can go wrong? And if it does, you can swim to the side and hope a friendly professor hauls you out.”
Kerry Jones, from Bath, visiting her sister Melissa in Cambridge, said she had been on a hen party herself on a punt some years ago. “This was the first time we took one out ourselves, and to be honest, I wouldn’t have let me on a punt, I was terrible,” she said.
Her sister said: “The river can be absolute chaos in the summer, but this is Cambridge – the punts are part of the atmosphere. I think most people wouldn’t want to do too much to stop people just taking out their own boat.”
As the pair turned to leave, two shrieks rang out behind them, as a party of four women were struck by another boat, crunching them against a wall. “Is that what they mean?” Jones said. “Perhaps it should be stricter. That did look bad.”
